Find Your Voice Children’s Summer Reading Selections

May 24, 2023 | Summer Reading

Children are invited to participate in our Summer Reading incentive program. With every ten titles read, participants will receive a free book or small prize. Pre-readers are welcome to participate with help from their caregivers. Children’s Librarian Marcia Cannon assembled a unique list to compliment this year’s theme: “Find Your Voice.” Marica chose books that she enjoyed reading in our library collection, both new and older. She noted that “some gave me chills of suspense, chuckles of laughter, or nods of emotional recognition while reading them. Most books on the list won critic’s praise and/or awards from the literary world. Since our summer reading theme is “Find Your Voice”, most of the titles resonate with that theme for children of being seen, being heard, and standing up to be your true self.” 

 

On August 18, we will celebrate the close of Summer Reading with an ice cream cup giveaway to all participants. The top three readers for the summer in each major age bracket will receive a certificate of $25.00 to a local bookstore. 

 

Books on the Marblehead Schools Summer Reading lists will be available for check out at the library in late June.

 

Ages 9-12

 

Fiction 

Amina’s Voice, by Hena Khan 

Breaking Stalin’s Nose, by Eugene Yelchin 

Can You See Me?, by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott 

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia 

Finally Seen, by Kelly Yang 

From the Desk of Zoe Washington, by Janae Marks

Simon Sort of Says, by Erin Bow

 

Nonfiction 

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader’s Edition, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, Illustrated by Anna Hymas

The Finest Hours: The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue,Young Reader’s Edition, by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman

Friends for Freedom: The Story of Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglass, by Suzanne Slade, Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell

I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World, Young Reader’s Edition, by Malala Yousafzai

Inspirational Sports Stories for Young Readers: How 12 World Class Athletes Overcame Challenges and Rose to the Top, by Kurt Taylor

Voices of the People, by Joseph Bruchac, Illustrated by Various Artists

Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers & Rebels, by Linda Skeers, Illustrated by Livi Gosling

 

Ages 5-8 

 

Fiction 

Big Truck Little Island, by Chris Van Dusen

Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, by Amanda Gorman, Illustrated by Loren Long

Evergreen, by Matthew Cordell 

Knight Owl, by Christopher Denise

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion, by Shannon Stocker, Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth 

Negative Cat, by Sophie Blackall

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts

Stillwater and Koo Save the World, by Jon J. Muth

 

Nonfiction

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science, by Joyce Sidman 

Let the Children March, by Monica Clark-Robinson, Illustrated by Frank Morrison 

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Me… Jane, by Patrick McDonnell

 

Ages 3-5

 

Fiction

The Digger and the Duckling, Written and Illustrated by Joseph Kuefler

Don’t Eat Bees: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog, by Dev Petty and Illustrated by Mike Boldt

Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae, Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

Hello Lighthouse, Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

In Every Life, By Marla Frazee

Jabari Jumps, Written and Illustrated by Gaia Cornwall

The Library Fish Learns to Read, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Illustrated by Gladys Jose

 

Nonfiction

Tree Hole Homes: Daytime Dens and Nighttime Nooks, by Melissa Stewart, Illustrated by Amy Hevron

 

Ages 0-3

 

Fiction

Bedtime, Not Playtime!, by Lawrence Schimel and Elīna Brasliņa

I Am So Brave!, by Stephen Krensky, Illustrated by Sara Gillingham

I Love You Like No Otter, by Rose Rossner, Illustrated by Sydney Hanson

Time to Pee!, Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems

 

Nonfiction 

Baby’s First Book of Birds & Colors, Written and Illustrated by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes

Who’s Hiding at the Beach?, Written and Illustrated by Katharine McEwen